Assistant Professor (tenure-track)

University of British Columbia - Staff; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is inviting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position focusing on Critical Minerals Processing and Innovation. The successful candidate will hold the George Poling Professorship and contribute to teaching, mentorship, and a dynamic research program in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in research and teaching.
• Eligible for Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registration within five years.

Responsibilities

• Participate in teaching activities of the Department.
• Develop an independent research program.
• Mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners.

Skills

Research

Teaching

Mentoring

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Mineral Processing, Metallurgy or a related field

Job description

Academic

Job Category Faculty Bargaining Job Title Assistant Professor (tenure-track) Department Administrative Leadership | Department of Mining Engineering | Faculty of Applied Science (Marek Pawlik) Posting End Date July 12, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

The expected pay (or pay range) for this position is $10,000 - $11,667/month.

George Poling Professorship in Critical Minerals Processing and Innovation

We acknowledge that the Vancouver Campus of The University of British Columbia (UBC) is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).

The Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering (the “Department”), part of the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of Critical Minerals Processing and Innovation at the rank of Assistant Professor. In addition to the tenure stream appointment, the successful candidate will hold the honorific title of George Poling Professorship in Critical Minerals Processing and Innovation for a specified term, renewable subject to a renewal process. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The starting salary range is $120,000–$140,000 annually.

The extraction and recovery of critical minerals is needed for transition to the green and digital economies. Canada is developing strategies to increase their supply and support domestic and global value chains.

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/nrcan-rncan/site/critical-minerals/Critical-minerals-strategyDec09.pdf

The UBC’s Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering offers a broad professional degree program, integrating courses on engineering principles, earth and mineral sciences, mining and mineral processing case studies, health, safety and environmental issues, social sciences and management, as well as economics and business. Emphasis is on providing students with comprehensive knowledge and hands-on skills to succeed in the industry. Our faculty members are active within the industry through research, consulting activities and involvement in professional societies. Further information is available at www.mining.ubc.ca.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in Mineral Processing, Metallurgy or a related field and should demonstrate the potential to achieve excellence in research and teaching. They must also be eligible to register as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC). Registration is required within five years of appointment. For more information, please visit www.egbc.ca .

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching activities of the Department, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. The incumbent will also be expected to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop an independent, multidisciplinary and internationally recognized research program and seek funding, both as an individual and in collaboration with others, from Government and industrial sources.

Expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

• Extraction and recovery of critical minerals

• Mineral processing technologies including comminution, physical separation, froth flotation and surface chemistry and extractive metallurgy, hydrodynamics and slurry transport.

• Equipment design, selection, modelling and simulation of mineral process technologies

• Proven experience in advanced laboratory testing, simulation and/or numerical modelling techniques. Sustainability with respect to mineral resource utilization, energy and water efficiency.

• Be familiar and up to date with the latest worldwide developments in mineral processing innovation.

• Understanding of Indigenous rights, community engagement, and the implications of UNDRIP in the context of the mining sector.

• Proven understanding of social and societal dimensions in the design, operation and control of mineral processing facilities, and today’s stringent requirements for responsible mining and related ESG (environmental, social, and government) factors and needs for sustainable mining operations.

The successful candidate must embrace productive relationships across cultural differences and develop an equitable, diverse and inclusive teaching and research approach that promotes a respectful environment for all students, staff and faculty. Collaboration with a variety of researchers on and off campus will be essential. The strategic plan of the Mining Engineering Department specifies diversity and inclusion as key priorities. We welcome colleagues with experiences and competencies that can contribute to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout campus life.

All applications must be submitted to the UBC Faculty Careers website and include:

• a cover letter,

• a detailed Curriculum Vitae,

• a five-year research program plan (up to 4 pages),

• a statement of teaching and training philosophy (up to 4 pages),

• a diversity statement, including a statement describing their experience working with a diverse community and a plan for creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion on campus or within their discipline (1 page).

• a list of current journal publications and conference papers/presentations,

• a copy of at least 3 significant research publications/presentations, and

• the names and contact information of four references.

Review of applications will begin August 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions about the recruitment can be directed via e-mail to Dr. Bern Klein (Chair of the Search Committee) at: [e-mail]

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized and integrated into current structures, planning and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process, UBC will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Accommodations are available on request for all candidates taking part in the selection process.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We particularly welcome candidates with experience working respectfully with Indigenous communities, or whose research or teaching meaningfully engages with Indigenous knowledge systems, governance, or rights, especially in relation to natural resources. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.